Abby Hernandez accused 'kidnapper' in court

Fifteen-year-old Abigail 'Abby' Hernandez, who went missing for nine months, made a surprise appearance in the courtroom where her alleged kidnapper was having his bail set.

Nathaniel Kibby has been held on bail of $US1 million as Abby, her mother and sister sat in the front of the New Hampshire courtroom.

Mr Kibby's lawyers entered no plea on the Class B felony for which, if Mr Kibby is convicted, he could face a sentence of up to seven years and a fine of $US4000.

Zenya Hernandez, left, sits with her daughter Abby as Nathaniel Kibby stands during his arraignment in a New Hampshire courtroom. Photo: AP

Detectives put police tape around a bunker-like shipping container found behind the home of Mr Kibby, local media reported. Mr Kibby, 34, was arrested on Monday without incident at his Gorham, New Hampshire home, about 50 kilometres north of where the girl lives, and was charged with felony kidnapping, authorities said.

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Police allege Mr Kibby knowingly confined Abby, then 14, on October 9, sometime after she left school to walk to her home in North Conway. Abby returned home the night of July 20, but authorities have not explained the circumstances of her return.

Mr Kibby allegedly bought the bunker as storage for a girlfriend's motorcycle.

"This has been an unusual case from the get-go for us," FBI special agent Kieran Ramsey told local ABC affiliate station WMUR. "We've seen our worst fears come true in some cases, but also our best hopes come true."

The case has drawn the attention both because of the strange circumstances of Abby's disappearance and the determination of her family to find the missing teen.

In an interview this week on NBC's Today, Abby's mother, Zenya Hernandez, said that when her daughter returned home, she was thin and pale and had "a look in her eyes I've never, ever seen before. And that's something that's haunting me, and I think will haunt me for the rest of my life."

Abigail Hernandez, right, sits with family and friends as she listens to her mother Zenya Hernandez, speak to lawyer. Photo: AP

The teen also issued a statement, which was posted on Facebook, thanking people who searched for her and saying she believes their hopes and prayers "played a major role in my release."

Zenya Hernandez said she believes Abby did not run away and didn't know the man believed to have driven off with her. The mother also said that rumours that her daughter was pregnant aren't true.

Attorney General Joseph Foster said that Abby provided the police with details of her kidnapping that led to Mr Kibby’s arrest. Those details came out within the last 48 hours.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Jane Young said that when the girl disappeared, she apparently had no way to get about or secure food, shelter or other necessities on her own. She said that Abby “went dark” and could not be traced through social media for the duration of her absence.

However, police revealed several months ago that Abby had written to her mother. When the letter surfaced, FBI agent Kieran Ramsey said it was possible the girl had run away but that someone could be coercing her into staying away. Police have not revealed the contents of the letter.